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Two samples of egg macaroni products made claims for the presence of vitamins without stating
what quantities were present. The manufacturers submitted an amended label, which was
satisfactory. Some uncooked strudel leaves contained hexamine which is a prohibited preservative.
The manufacturers claimed that hexamine was absent but that propionic acid was present.
Propionic acid is also a prohibited preservative within the meaning of the Preservatives Regulations,
but its detection is extremely difficult and your analyst is not satisfied that hexamine was absent.
A loaf of rye bread contained a cigarette end which had adhered to the bottom of the loaf and had
been baked on to the outside of the loaf.
A sponge mixture was reported adulterated because it would not make a satisfactory sponge, but
this was not surprising as it was war-time manufacture and therefore about 15 years old ;
Some chocolate covered honey cakes contained no honey and were incorrectly labelled.
A jar of honey was reported as inferior on account of its dark colour. It appeared, however,
to be a genuine honey as claimed by the vendor, but the bees must have obtained some of their
nectar from a doubtful source.
The syrup of a sample of canned yellow cling peaches in rich syrup was found on analysis to
contain only 12 per cent. of sugar calculated as sucrose so that the description 'Rich Syrup' was
incorrect. Four grades of syrup are recognised for canned fruits, light syrup, syrup, heavy syrup,
and extra heavy syrup, and these contain 20 per cent., 30 per cent., 40 per cent. and 50 per cent. of
sugar respectively, but the strength of the syrups are reduced somewhat by the fruit juice.
A sample of scented orange Pekoe tea, about which a complaint had been received, was examined
and found to be flavoured with about ten times the quantity of perfume used for the normal orange
flavour. No doubt a mistake had been made in the addition of the perfume and the tea had probably
been intended for blending with other tea before being sold.
Seeds sold as black sesame were in reality nigella seeds. They were imported into this country
from Greece as Glikanisso, the Greek word for aniseed which is the fruit of Anise, as we know it
Pimpenella Anisum, and is the flavouring used in aniseed balls, but they were neither aniseeds nor
black sesame.
A tube of mayonnaise contained 0.4 per cent. of salt which was not declared on the label. As salt
is not a spice within the meaning of the Labelling of Food Regulations its presence must be disclosed.
A sample of whisky was only 55.6 per cent. proof and therefore contained at least 14.5 per cent.
of excess water. The Food and Drugs Act requires spirits to contain not less than 65 per cent. proof
spirit.
Some buttered popcorns were flavoured with a quantity of coumarin which was objectionable,
although when used in traces this helps to create the impression of the presence of butter. The use
of coumarin as a flavouring is not prohibited in this country, but in the United States of America,
where it is held to be toxic, its use is prohibited.
Some sweets were examined at the request of a doctor because a child's urine possessed a
fluourescent appearance. The child concerned had eaten some of the sweets and these were found
to contain a red fluorescent dye, Rhodamine B. It was therefore probable that the confectionery
was responsible for the fluorescent appearance of the urine.
A sample of full dairy cream milk chocolate was reported adulterated. The flavour was more or
less satisfactory but the fat appeared to consist almost entirely of palm kernel or coconut oil,
probably hardened, and only a small quantity of cocoa butter and milk fat. Dairy cream milk
chocolate must be made with cocoa butter and milk fat.
Three samples of milk chocolate coated biscuits were incorrectly labelled as ' Milk Chocolate.'
The manufacturers agreed to amend the label but further samples received still bore the old label.
Some bread rolls with ham, and a piece of ham from the same premises, contained maggots and
live larvae of the common bluebottle, and were unfit for sale. A breakfast cereal contained 8 beetles,
some alive and some dead, and was unfit for consumption. A sample of mixed dried fruit, which
was reported as adulterated, contained two maggots.
A sample of stoned cleaned raisins weighing 83 grammes, equivalent to 3 ozs., contained 14 pieces
of stalk and 24 stones. The raisins as such were not dirty, but so many pieces of stalk should not be
present and the number of stones was rather high. The sample was reported as inferior.
The label on some garlic pearles was considered to be misleading owing to the extravagant claims
made for the small quantity of garlic oil present. The disclosure of the ingredients present also
contravened the requirements of the Pharmacy and Medicines Act,